When Gabby Wheeler started as a Shearer Operator at Broadmeadow Mine, she didn’t feel like the odd one out, even though she was the first female at BMA to work in the role.

A shearer consists of rotating drums studded with cutting bits that are raised or lowered depending on seam thickness. The broken coal is deposited on a conveyor system running parallel to the face which carries the coal to the parallel entries and out of the mine. The Shearer Operator moves with the machine as it advances and controls the shearer drums to cut the coal seam.

Gabby said that she started her career in the open cut, then as an underground Trainee for a few years, before arriving at Broadmeadow as a Longwall Operator. After working in the Longwall Team, she was asked if she would be interested in an opportunity as a Shearer Operator.

“I joined the Longwall department, learning the skills I needed to develop and with six months of training I became a Shearer Operator on crew,” she said.

Starting as a Longwall Operator and moving into the Shearer Operator role has enabled Gabby to diversify her skills and become an integral part of the team at Broady.

“There’s a lot of experience on my crew and they have all been so supportive and helped me every step of the way, we all work so well together and it’s a great team environment,” she said.

It took almost six months of on the job training for Gabby to be ready to carry out the role.

She mentioned that getting the job turned out to be a great decision for her.

“It’s an interesting yet challenging role, which is very rewarding,” she said.

“I certainly feel welcome in the team and really enjoy the work.”

Well done Gabby. It’s great to see hard work paying off and you being able to enjoy the job that you’ve put so much effort into gaining.